Ben S. Morris

Ben S. Morris, a Black man, was held in the jail at Watonga, in what was then Oklahoma Territory. Newspaper reports from the time say that on the night of September 15, 1896, a crowd stormed the jail, overpowered the jailer, and took him out. They hanged him from the nearest tree and left his body there. Other accounts date the killing to September 16 or to October 12, 1896.

Cause of death, as reported: Taken from custody and lynched. A mob stormed the Watonga, Oklahoma Territory, jail, overpowered the jailer, took Ben S. Morris out and hanged him from a tree, according to news dispatches of the time.

Reported by: news dispatch datelined Wichita, Kas. (reporters); dispatch from Wichita, Kan., to the New York World (reporters); Wichita, Kas. news dispatch (reporters).

News reports (6)

• Alexandria Gazette, September 16, 1896, page 2 Alexandria Gazette, September 16, 1896
• The Morning News, September 17, 1896, page 1 The Morning News, September 17, 1896
• Birmingham State Herald, September 17, 1896, page 2 Birmingham State Herald, September 17, 1896
• The Evening Bulletin, September 17, 1896, page 1 The Evening Bulletin, September 17, 1896
• The Grenada Sentinel, September 19, 1896, page 2 The Grenada Sentinel, September 19, 1896
• Staunton Spectator And Vindicator, October 14, 1896, page 2 Staunton Spectator And Vindicator, October 14, 1896